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A 2015 National Survey of E-Cigarette Use among Irish Youth

Authors:

Keogan, S., Taylor, K., Babineau, K. and Clancy L.J.

Journal / Publication name:

European Respiratory Journal

Abstract:

Background: Tobacco use among young people in Ireland is declining but remains a problem. The use of e-cigarettes is increasing and its implications unsure. In our previous Irish study, 23.8% (n=196) of respondents had used e-cigarettes at least once and 4.2% of never smokers had used e-cigarettes (Babineau, K. et al. (2015) PLoS ONE 10(5)). Design/Methods: A cross-sectional, nationally-representative survey was conducted with 2028 young people aged 15-17 as part of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD). This included 4 items on e-cigarettes as well as several items on smoking behaviours and attitudes. Results: 24.7% (n=482) reported use of e-cigarettes at least once, including 214 students who reported using e-cigarettes in the last 30 days (11.0%). 130 students reported daily use of e-cigarettes (6.8% of sample). 18.3% of e-cigarette users (n=88) cited quitting tobacco as a reason for using e-cigarettes. The most common reason for using e-cigarettes was “out of curiosity” 61.2%, (n=295). 8.3% of never smokers had used e-cigarettes (n=109). 13.4% (n=272) reported that they had smoked one or more cigarettes in the last 30 days, 6.9% smoked daily (n=139). Two-thirds of students (66.7%, n=1,350) reported that they had never smoked a cigarette. Conclusion: E-cigarettes are popular among youth in Ireland, with around a quarter of respondents reporting they had used e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are now used as commonly as cigarettes. Even more worrying is the finding that there has been an almost doubling of e-cigarette usage among never smokers in the current study. The implications for future smoking is unknown but nicotine addiction seems set to continue.

Publishing year:

2016

Type of Document:

Peer reviewed article/paper

Document language:

English

URN:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA2019

About ESPAD

The main purpose of ESPAD is to collect comparable data on substance use in Europe among 16 year old students, in order to monitor trends within as well as between countries.